The Not-So-Famous Mughal Monuments
Over the years that Speaking Archaeologically has been working in different parts of India, the members have come across several Mughal monuments that are not so well-documented and definitely not among the very well-known ones. As these monuments continued being absent from mainstream narratives and popular attention, in 2020, this project “Not-So-Famous Mughal Monuments” was conceived as an online digital initiative whereby these not so famous Mughal monuments and their stories could be shared, and a digital archive of these otherwise “quotidian” structures could be created for access by everybody. Thus, more information was collected on these sites and these were then thoroughly documented and recorded.
As part of this project, videos are regularly released on YouTube, featuring one Mughal monument at a time, and focusing on its location, history, architecture, and state of conservation and preservation. The first video of the series was released on the 25th of May, 2020, featuring the Hazira Maqbara at Vadodara, Gujarat. This was the lesser-known tomb of Mir Nawab Shah Syed Qutubuddin. Other videos subsequently focused on such sites as the tombs of Khusro Bagh at Prayagraj, and the Safdarjung’s Tomb in Delhi, among several others. Through these videos, which can be freely accessed by all, the project aims at connecting with a larger audience from different parts of the country and draw attention to several issues and concerns facing these monuments, which despite being Mughal, do not feature in the regular tourist itineraries as much as the Taj Mahal of Agra, or the Red Fort of Delhi, do.
This project also aims at drawing the attention of heritage enthusiasts, art history and archaeology students, as well as conservationists, so that suitable interventions could be made in the future in the field of preservation and understanding of these monuments.
This project also aims at drawing the attention of heritage enthusiasts, art history and archaeology students, as well as conservationists, so that suitable interventions could be made in the future in the field of preservation and understanding of these monuments.